Cowboys Camp Reveal: Tyler, Martin and O-Line Plan

OXNARD, Calif. - The Dallas Cowboys have one of the most dominant offensive lines in the NFL ... when the guys are healthy and available.

Entering training camp here in Oxnard, the goal is to figure out where everyone on the line goes given recent injuries and how to make everyone happy, given this Zack Martin contract conflict.

A source tells CowboysSI.com that Martin is holding out as he did not show up by Tuesday morning here at camp. Meanwhile, we are also told that Terence Steele is healthy enough to work soon, maybe only after a brief time on PUP.

So, what are the steps to completing this puzzle? SBNation writes that it's to figure out what to do with Tyler Smith. In fact, SBNation lists Smith's placement as the No. 1 battle to watch in Oxnard. Luckily for you, Dear Reader, SBNation isn't in Oxnard. We are. And we are here to tell you that the Cowboys have already made their decision, at least in pencil, to use Tyler at left guard.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told us here on Tuesday that the team is going to "start camp the way we finished" in the spring. "Check your notes,'' he jokingly told us.

We don't have to "check.'' The final spring practices featured Tyron Smith at left tackle, where he belongs. Tyler Smith was the left guard. Terence Steele - as CowboysSI.com wrote earlier this week - will not go on PUP and figures as the right tackle. With the Zack Martin holdout, there will be right guard fill-ins.

But there is not, and has never been, a controversial decision involving Tyler, as SBNation suggests.

"The entire configuration of Dallas’ starting offensive line revolves around where to play Tyler Smith," SBNation wrote. "Is he best utilized playing left guard with Tyron Smith or someone else playing left tackle, or should he start at left tackle with someone else starting at left guard?"

This has somebody's debate. But it has not been ours. Tyler spent 89 percent of his rookie snaps lined up at tackle and set a high bar for himself with a stellar rookie season at the position. Tyron is most comfortable at left tackle and is going to the Hall of Fame. Terence is most comfortable at right guard.

This was never that complicated, even with SBNation writing, "This is without a doubt the most important thing the Cowboys have to figure out early on in training camp and preseason. This issue needs to be settled as soon as possible in order to create some offensive line cohesiveness.''

Yeah, but ... it was settled months ago, as we reported. And if Dallas has a healthy offensive line that gets time together - that includes a happy Martin - there's nothing keeping this unit from being among the NFL's best in 2023.